Strand

In the September issue: Tatler Restaurant Awards

Even before the doors opened, guests were queuing to get
into the 11th Tatler Restaurant Awards in the Savoy's
Lancaster Ballroom, held in conjunction with our best pals
Champagne Laurent-Perrier and Taste of London. Ollie Dabbous, who
looks 14 and is keen on body piercing, scooped Best Kitchen for his
eponymous restaurant. Chef Daniel Boulud - nominated for Bar Boulud
- was over from New York and declared the awards a triumph (even
though he didn't win), while Wolfgang Puck (the world's first
celebrity chef, whose Cut was nominated for Best New Restaurant) in
London from Los Angeles, said he was dazzled by such a sparkling
event. Michel Roux Sr pitched up with his wife, and his nephew Michel
Roux Jr came with his. Michel Jr won Lauren-Perrier's lifetime
Achievement Award (which Michel Sr received four years ago).
Keeping up? Marcus
Wareing looked positively leonine with his new long locks;
heart-throb (and last year's Young Chef winner) Jesse Dunford Wood
cruised the room looking for trouble. When Hiromi Mitsuka won the
gong for most consistently excellent restaurants with Shogun, she
responded with an incredulous 'Me? Me? Me?' before ascending to the
stage and bursting into tears.